Sopana Sangeetham is a form of Indian classical music that developed in the temples of Kerala in south India in the wake of the increasing popularity of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda or Ashtapadis.[1]
The name derives from two Malayalam or Sanskrit words: Sopanam and Sangeetham. The word Sopanam refers to the sacred steps of main shrine of a temple and Sangeetham refers to music.
Sopana sangeetham (music), as the very name suggests, is sung by the side of the holy steps (sopanam) leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. It is sung, typically employing plain notes, to the accompaniment of the small, hourglass-shaped ethnic drum called 'edakka' or idakka, besides the chengila or the handy metallic gong to sound the beats. Sopanam is traditionally sung by men of the Maarar and Pothuval castes of Ambalavasi (semi-Brahmin) community, engaged to do it as their hereditary profession.[2]
The late Njeralattu Rama Poduval of Thirumandhamkunnu bani, Janardhanan Nedungadi of Guruvayoor, Sri Jyothidas Guruvayoordasan, Damodara Marar, a practitioner of the temple art called Mudiyettu, from Pazhoor and Sadanam Divakara Marar, master percussionist.[3]
Sopanasangeetham has a special fan base and is widely performed in the region between Eranakulam to Kozhikkode. This area is fertile of many experienced and junior sopanasangeetham artists.Ambalappuzha Vijayakumar and Eloor Biju is considered as the most leading artists of present time.Ayilur Akhil Marar,,, are famous maestro in this area. Junior upcoming artists like Mankunnam Harikesan Namboothiri, Mankunnam Harigovind Namboothiri, Adithyan Marar, Sadanam Aswin Murali, etc also have greater fan base.